Don Hooper Email & Phone Number

Tampa, Fl, Us

Greater Tampa Bay Area

Washington D.C. Metro Area

In this role, I served as a Special Operations Advisor to Diplomatic Security Service’s Director of High Threats Programs. I routinely served as the conduit between Diplomatic Security Service and other interagency stakeholders to ensure efficiency in crisis response management. I was Project Manager and special operations advisor to the DoS-led Interagency (IA) Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST), a presidentially directed IA rapid response team that deploys in the event of terrorist incidents & threats overseas providing U.S. Chiefs of Mission and Embassy country teams with specialized IA coordinated capabilities and subject matter expertise. I also served as a Project Manager/exercise planner for the DoS during Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) "Ellipse" series exercises, ensuring that DoS, IA, and National Security CT policy (NSPM-36) is represented & advanced. A few accomplishments: I played a key role in the Realignment and Change Implementation of the FEST portfolio when it moved from the Bureau of Counterterrorism to Diplomatic Security Service. I developed organizational structure, employment guidance, and deployment SOPs. I planned, designed, and facilitated DoS/IA participation in six, year-long, CJCS exercise to ensure core capabilities of the counter-terrorism response enterprise was tested and evaluated. I developed performance goals, project status reports, and deliverables. I provided training and support to U.S. Embassy country teams during the exercises, delivered detailed after-action reports, and formulated future training plans to address deficiencies, directly impacting U.S. whole-of-government readiness. I deployed with the FEST to Embassy Beirut to coordinate inter-agency response following the Beirut Port explosion.

Quantico, Virginia

I oversaw the day-to-day operations within Special Duty Assignment (SDA) section, supervising the screening processes while adjudicating all recommendations for the staffing of 8700+ USMC SDA positions worldwide. I assisted in the designed and implemented a screening and staffing plan to identify and assign the most qualified Marines to SDA positions. My team developed a Plan of Action & Milestones for the implementation of the staffing plan. Then developed a data tracking system to collect and analyze statistics on eligibility for SDA assignment to track reasons for attrition at all phases of the assignment.Facilitated the rewrite effort of the Marine Corps’ special duty assignments manual (MCO 1326.6), which resulted in the selection of better qualified Marines to the different SDA. It also increased the efficiencies of the entire screening process by reducing the burden of deploying units and the Marines themselves.

Quantico, Virginia

Responsible for equipping, deploying, and sustaining, of MARSOC forces that enabled them conduct special operations in support of U.S. Marine Special Operation Command's mission.Supervised 7 commodity sections within the logistics field, conducted detailed analyses, and planned and led tactical and operational-level logistics operations in support of MARSOC Forces. Prepared logistics and support plans, deployment timelines and budget requirements for a Special Operations Task Force during training and combat operations.Lead logistics reconnaissance missions to various locations within our area of responsibility to monitor and improve the logistics support to Marine Special Operations Companies (MSOC).Awarded the 2015 Marine Corps Logistics Small Unit of the Year Award (Unit Award)

San Diego, California, United States

I was selected for a Marine Corps enlisted to officer commissioning program. I then attended San Diego State University and participated in the N.R.O.T.C. program until I commissioned.

Camp Pendleton

Developed curriculum and delivered expert instruction of special reconnaissance and sniper skills MARSOC Critical Skills Operators, designing and coordinating real world scenarios for five MSOCs in preparation for combat deployments. Developed a comprehensive evaluation tool used by individual evaluators during deployment certification exercises. The tool linked directly to the Training and Readiness Manual so evaluators could see the exact criteria for which to assess the Mission Essential Tasks the scenarios were designed to test. This facilitated an accurate assessment of performance and readiness of deploying units and gave commanders an easy, color coded snapshot of performance and readiness.Worked in collaboration with contracted support and Marine Raider Battalion throughout the development and execution of MSOC preparation of the environment collective training events.Contributed to the preparation of MARSOC training and readiness manual for the development of special reconnaissance and sniper individual, team, company, and battalion training standards.Aided with the creation, administration, and daily functioning of MARSOC’s Special Missions Training Branch Advanced Sniper Course.

Ms In Defense And Strategic Studies With A Concentration In Weapons Of Mass Destruction, National Security Policy Studies

Bachelor'S Degree, International Security And Conflict Resolution